Thin reinforced product and tire comprising said product

Abstract

A reinforced product ( 21 ) comprises: an elastomer matrix ( 23 ), several reinforcing elements ( 44 ) embedded in the elastomer matrix ( 23 ), the reinforcing elements ( 44 ) being arranged side by side in a main direction (X 1 ). Each reinforcing element ( 44 ) comprises: at least one filamentary element ( 46 ) comprising a single monofilament, and at least one sheath coating the filamentary elements ( 46 ) and comprising at least one layer of a thermoplastic polymer composition. The ratio R1=ODO/E of the mean minimum thickness ODO of elastomer present on the back of the sheath to the mean thickness E of the reinforced product ( 21 ) is less than or equal to 0.17, the mean minimum thickness of elastomer ODO and mean thickness E of the reinforced product ( 21 ) being measured in a direction (Y 1 ) substantially perpendicular to the main direction (X 1 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A tire comprising:
 a crown surmounted by a tread; 
 two sidewalls; 
 two beads, each sidewall connecting each bead to the crown; 
 a carcass reinforcement anchored in each of the beads and extending through the sidewalls as far as the crown, and 
 a crown reinforcement interposed radially between the carcass reinforcement and the tread, 
 wherein the tire is a passenger vehicle tire, and 
 wherein the crown reinforcement is a reinforced product comprising: 
 an elastomer matrix, 
 several reinforcing elements embedded in the elastomer matrix, the reinforcing elements being arranged side by side in a main direction, each reinforcing element comprising: 
 at least one filamentary element comprising a single monofilament, and 
 at least one sheath coating the filamentary elements and comprising at least one layer of a thermoplastic polymer composition, 
 wherein a mean thickness E of the reinforced product is less than or equal to 0.95 mm; 
 wherein a pitch P at which the reinforcing elements are laid in the main direction is less than or equal to 1.1 mm; 
 wherein the ratio R1=ODO/E of the mean minimum thickness ODO of elastomer present on the sheath to the mean thickness E of the reinforced product is less than or equal to 0.17, the mean minimum thickness of elastomer ODO and mean thickness E of the reinforced product being measured in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main direction; 
 wherein the ratio R2=B/E of the mean minimum thickness B of elastomer separating two successive reinforcing elements in the main direction to the mean thickness E of the reinforced product is less than or equal to 0.3; 
 wherein each filamentary element has a mean bulk D in the direction substantially perpendicular to the main direction, and wherein the ratio R3=D/E of the mean bulk D to the mean thickness E of the reinforced product is less than or equal to 0.6. 
 
     
     
       2. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio R1 is less than or equal to 0.15. 
     
     
       3. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein the mean minimum thickness ODO is less than or equal to 0.17 mm. 
     
     
       4. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein the mean minimum thickness ODO is less than or equal to 0.11 mm. 
     
     
       5. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein the mean thickness E is less than or equal to 0.75 mm. 
     
     
       6. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio R2=B/E of the mean minimum thickness B of elastomer separating two successive reinforcing elements  44  in the main direction to the mean thickness E of the reinforced product is less than or equal to 0.3. 
     
     
       7. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein the mean minimum thickness B of elastomer separating two successive reinforcing elements in the main direction is less than or equal to 0.5 mm. 
     
     
       8. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein the mean minimum thickness B of elastomer separating two successive reinforcing elements in the main direction is less than or equal to 0.2 mm. 
     
     
       9. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein the pitch P at which the reinforcing elements are laid in the main direction is less than or equal to 0.8 mm. 
     
     
       10. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein the mean thickness G of the sheath on each filamentary element in the direction substantially perpendicular to the main direction ranges from 35 μm to 200 μm. 
     
     
       11. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein each reinforcing element comprises a single filamentary element. 
     
     
       12. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein each reinforcing element comprises several filamentary elements, each comprising a single monofilament and a communal sheath collectively coating the filamentary elements. 
     
     
       13. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein each monofilament is metallic. 
     
     
       14. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein each monofilament has a diameter ranging from 0.10 mm to 0.35 mm. 
     
     
       15. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein each monofilament has a diameter ranging from 0.14 mm to 0.20 mm. 
     
     
       16. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein each filamentary element has a mean bulk D in the direction substantially perpendicular to the main direction, and
 wherein the ratio R3=D/E of the mean bulk D to the mean thickness E of the reinforced product is less than or equal to 0.5. 
 
     
     
       17. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer composition comprises a thermoplastic polymer, a functionalized diene elastomer, a poly(p-phenylene ether) or a mixture of these materials. 
     
     
       18. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheath is coated with a layer of an adhesive providing adhesion between the sheath and the elastomer matrix. 
     
     
       19. The tire according to  claim 1 , wherein the crown reinforcement comprises a working reinforcement comprising the reinforced product and a hoop reinforcement which is interposed radially between the working reinforcement and the tread. 
     
     
       20. The tire according to  claim 19 , wherein the hoop reinforcement comprises at least one textile hoop reinforcing element.